Moscow, Russia – Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced the creation of a unified air defense system among the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states. Shoigu made this revelation during an appearance on the Rossiya-1 TV channel.

According to 24.kg News Agency, the system has been established through bilateral agreements with each CSTO member state, including Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Belarus. He emphasized that the air defense system is operational, regularly undergoing exercises to maintain combat readiness. Shoigu noted that while the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) already has a unified system, the CSTO has now effectively established its own.

Shoigu further explained that the system was created under these bilateral agreements. He suggested that formal documentation might be pursued in the future to officially recognize the system, but emphasized its current functional status.

The agreement between the Russian Federation and the Kyrgyz Republic, establishing a unified regional air defense system, was a key component of this development. Ratified by the Russian federal law on May 29, 2023, and officially effective as of November 2, the agreement was initially signed in Moscow on August 16, 2022. This system is part of the larger unified air defense system of the CIS.

Under the agreement, Russia will gain temporary use of 5 hectares of land in Kyrgyzstan for its contingent. Operational coordination will be under the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Aerospace Forces, with joint actions managed by the Commander of the Kyrgyz Air Defense Forces.

The agreement is set for a five-year term, with automatic renewal unless one of the parties expresses an intention to terminate it at least six months before the end of the current term.

This development represents a significant step in regional defense collaboration among CSTO member states, enhancing the collective security apparatus in response to shared strategic interests and threats.